Books and Needlepoint: Secrets to Happiness by Sarah Dunn

Title: Secrets to Happiness
Author: Sarah Dunn
Publisher/Publication Date: Little, Brown & Company (Hachette), March 2009

First sentence: "Do you want to know the secret to a happy marriage?"

Based on the title, Secrets to Happiness, and the cute puppy on the cover, I was expecting a light summer read with a happy ending. Now, don't misunderstand me - I don't need a happy ending to enjoy a book - and this book did have a happy ending of sorts - it was just not what I was expecting. (I guess that is why they say don't judge a book by it's cover!)

Holly is the main character - she is middle-aged, divorced from a man she was still in love with, and her career is in a downward spiral. She had been a successful sitcom writer with Leonard - but had taken a break to write a book. (Leonard's career also took a nose dive after this when he decided to make a very very gay movie). The book was not the success she had hoped for and was pretty much about her ex-husband Alex, and her ex-boyfriend before the husband, Spencer.

Holly does some crazy things in the following months - I would say she was searching for that 'elusive' happiness. She has an affair with Lucas who is only 22 and the younger brother of her friend Betsy. Then she moves on to Jack who she met while he was having an affair with her married friend, Amanda. Somewhere in the midst of all this she adopts a dog, Chester, who has brain cancer.

I did not feel a connection to anyone in this book - and there were a lot of characters. I will admit that I had to go back occasionally to figure out who they were talking about - the characters just did not seem very distinctive for me. The book overall didn't hold any excitement or anticipation - it didn't seem to 'build' to a climax, but just sort of ended. I suppose that mirrors real life in some ways though - situations resolve, relationships evolve or end, but life continues on. Please take a look at some other reviews (below) - just because it wasn't for me, doesn't mean it won't be for you!

5 comments:

bermudaonion said...: My reaction to this book was the same as yours.; June 12, 2009 at 4:00 PM
Anonymous said...: Very interesting review! But it sure has a cute cover!; June 12, 2009 at 5:51 PM
Cheryl Pitt said...: Great review. It drives me crazy when I have to go back to figure out who the characters are...; June 13, 2009 at 6:18 AM
Sandy said...: The cover IS quite cute. It makes the story seem peppy... and the dog looks so happy, despite having brain cancer apparently....; June 13, 2009 at 10:34 PM
Unknown said...: It looks like she makes the same mistake many women do while searching for happiness: she escapes into physical relationships thinking that new man or sexual experience will make her happy. It is a real phenomenon I just could never understand it. I don't think I would like the book though probably because of that unnatural flow where you have to keep going back to clrea up who is being talked or written about.; June 16, 2009 at 6:38 AM

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Friday, June 12, 2009

Secrets to Happiness by Sarah Dunn - Blog Tour and Book Review

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